12 killed, 1 hurt as truck rams jeep in Ilocos Norte

(Update 2) Twelve people, mostly high school students, were killed while one was seriously injured when the passenger jeepney they were riding smashed into a cargo truck in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte, early Tuesday, police said.

Another jeepney passenger, identified as Joshua Bolibol, 12, is still undergoing treatment at the Gov. Roque Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital in Laoag City as of this writing.

Truck driver Vencio Butac, who suffered bruises and abrasions, voluntarily surrendered to policemen who went to the scene.

The incident occurred around 7:30 a.m. while Dela Cruz was driving the jeepney (AVZ-924) along the National Highway in Brgy. 18, plying the Solsona-Laoag route, Ilocos regional police spokesman Supt. Jovencio Badua said.

The jeepney was overtaking another vehicle when it collided head-on with the 14-wheeled cargo truck (TGW-104) driven by Butac, Badua said, citing initial results of investigation by the Sarrat Police. (John Roson)